City of Mount Gambier and District Council of Grant will submit a joint motion regarding regional air travel for consideration within the agenda for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly to be held in June 2025.
The motion calls on the Federal Government to:
- Increase targeted investment in operational aspects of regional airports to support ongoing usage of essential infrastructure and long-term viability.
- Introduce strategies which result in fairer airline pricing policies, encourage competition and reduce airfare disparities.
- Establish frameworks that safeguard regional flights, frequencies and reliability.
- Expand regional aviation support programs ensuring that communities reliant on air travel are not left behind.
"This motion acknowledges the role of local government in operating airports across regional Australia as critical community infrastructure. It highlights the financial pressure to meet regulation, maintenance and upgrade requirements. The motion also details the inequality in regional passenger fares, service frequency and reliability and the liveability implications for regional Australians," District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston said.
Air travel is a critical lifeline for regional Australia, connecting communities to essential services, economic opportunities, and social networks. Our local people and other regional Australians often rely on limited aviation services as their only viable means of safe, timely, and efficient long-distance travel. - District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston
City and Grant councils worked together to draft the motion informed by the Federal Government's Aviation White Paper: Towards 2050, the Australian Airports Association Taking Flight report, the Mount Gambier Regional Airport Master Plan 2025 - 2035, public advocacy statements provided by the Local Government Association South Australia and the City of Mount Gambier's 2024 - 2028 Strategic Plan and Mount Gambier 2035 Community Vision.
"Air connectivity in regional areas is so important, but it is fragile. I am sure many people can attest that we are often subjected to comparatively high fares, limited flight frequency, difficult onward connections and service reliability challenges," City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said.
Findings from the Towards 2050 Aviation White Paper reported a collective view that regional aviation fails to serve the community's needs.
The paper highlights that the average ticket price per kilometre is 52 per cent higher for return flights to or from a non-capital city than return flights between two capital cities. These costs make air travel unaffordable for many people living in regional areas, and disproportionately impact those with no viable alternatives, such as patients seeking critical medical care. - City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin
"We are calling for a national strategy that addresses these barriers and ensures affordable, reliable air access for all," Mayor Boston said.
Aviation services are vital to the visitor economy, connecting tourists to regional destinations that showcase Australia's diverse landscapes and heritage.
"Without improved air access, tourism potential and the visitor economy will be constrained. This motion aligns with our shared advocacy commitments to support the sustainability and ongoing improvement of air travel to and from our region, highlighting its direct contribution to liveability, our economy and our access to critical services," Mayor Martin said.
"A proactive approach to federal funding and regulation will help future-proof regional aviation, supporting the communities, like us, that depend on it," Mayor Boston said.
